Glove and method of making

ABSTRACT

A glove constructed of tranks including a palm portion and a rear portion, and with the glove being closely adapted to the anatomy and natural motion of the hand. The palm portions of the finger compartments or stalls adapted to respectively receive the fore finger, middle finger, and little finger of the hand are obliquely inclined relative to an imaginary center line drawn through or along an edge of the trank for the glove portion encompassing the metacarpus of the hand, which edge of the trank which is coextensive with the outer edge of the trank portion for the little finger compartment being directed away from the thumbforming portion of the glove.

Ilited States Patent 1191 Lars-Jos 4 July 9, 1974 GLOVE AND METHOD OFMAKING [76] Inventor: Pehr Lars-Jos, N. Moen, S-782 Prlma'y Examiner-GeoLarkm Malling, Sweden Attorney, Agent, or Fzrm-Er1c H. Waters [22]Filed:' Nov. 8, 1972 21 A LN 304826 l 1 pp 0 57 ABSTRACT [30] ForeignApplication Priority Data A glove constructed of tranks including a palmpor- NOV. 9, 1971 Sweden 14266/7] tion and a rear portion and with theglove being closely adapted to the anatomy and natural motion of [52][1.8. CL; 2/169 th ha d, The palm portions of the finger compa [51] Int.Cl A4ld 19/02 ments o st lls adapted to respectively receive the foreFleld of Search finger finger and little finger of the hand areobliquely inclined relative to an imaginary center line References Citeddrawn through or along an edge of the trank for the 1 UNITEDSTATES'PATENTS glove portion encompassing the metacarpus of thel,26l,374 4/l9l8 Feldgusmhn 2/169 hand which edge of the hank which iscoextensive 1,885,446 1'1/1932' .lohanson 2/l69 With the Outer g of the{rank P r for the little 2,299,118 10/1942 Wheeler 2/159 fingercompartment being directed away from the 2,538,837 l/l95l Johnston 2/169thumb-forming portion of the glove. 2,742,645 4/1956 Bleeth 2/169FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 6/l937 France. 2/l69 10 Claims, 5Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUL 9 m4 SHEU 2 [IF 4 GLOVE AND METHOD OF MAKINGFIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a glove and to a methodmaking the same.

The human hand generally functions in the following manner: The fourthree-knuckled fingers, in effect, the fore finger, the middle finger,the ring finger, and the little finger are in a relaxed state, more orless bent into a claw-like appearance through formation of a projectingconfiguration extending from the metacarpus. In this relaxed or at-restposition, the fingers are contiguous to or proximate each other and,even though they are relaxed, they are prepared for effecting a grip.From this position the fingers are movable in two directions, eitherpartly backwardly and outwardly so that they are spaced whereby eachfinger is extended in a substantially coplanar relationship with themetacarpus, or partly forwardly and inwardly bent when a grip iseffected, or when the hand is clenched into a fist. When the fingers arespaced apart, not only are the finger knuckles deflected into the planeof the metacarpus, but the separate fingers, or more precisely thefingertips, tend to move away from each other so as to form wedge-shapedinterspaces between the fingers. The situation, in principle, isreversed when the hand movement is in an opposite direction from therelaxed or at-rest position, in. effect, when the fist is clenched. Thefinger tips tend to approach each other until a maximum bent fingerposition has been reached, at which time they mutually form asubstantially right angle. This hand movement from a relaxed position tomaximum bending occurs for each'finger in a plane which is not parallelto an imaginary center line through the metacarpus, or a contour linedefined by the edge of the metacarpus extending from the thumb, butrather in a plane which extends at a sharp angle with the center line.All of the four three-knuckled fingers tend to move slantingly towardone side in the di-. rection of thethumb, inferring that they areorientated towards the fleshy part of the palm interiorly of or aroundthe thumb bone of the metacarpus. The thumb is movable towards and awayfrom the middle finger in a plane extending at a sharp angle with-theplane of the metacarpus. The thumb thus functions in a plane which isnot parallel to but rather somewhat inclined relative to the functioningplane of the three-knuckled fingers of the human hand.

DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART Heretofore,'known gloves have not, or haveonly to a small extent been shaped so as to be fitted to the human handas the hand moves, with the hand movements being determined by theanatomical construction of the hand.

As a starting point in the production of prior art gloves there has beenconsidered a hand position in which the fingers of the hand are extendedstraight and orientated in the same plane'as the metacarpus, mostfrequently with the fingers in contact with each other. A glove palmsection and a rear hand portion was cut from a trank with the profile ofthe hand in that physical position being the pattern, whereafter thecut-out sections, together with finger-fourchettes and thumb pieces,were joined and seamed to form the completed gloves.

Since the foregoing type of glove production considered a hand positionin which the fingers extend coplanar with the metacarpus, drawbacks areencountered in using the gloves. Thus, the finger compartments or fingerstalls of the glove will not follow the fingers of the hand in themovement trajectories of the latter, since the fingers of the glove tendto move parallel with re spect to the center line of the metacarpus ofthe hand in the glove, while the fingers of the hand due to theirinherent anatomical structure tend to slantingly move towards the centerline. The length of the rear portion of the finger compartments, as wellas the palm portions thereof, detemtined by the length of the fingers ofthe hand in the starting manufacturing position, in practice results inthat the glove finger lengths along the rear portions become too short,and the glove finger lengths along the palm portion become too long.When the fingers of the hand are bent, in particular, upon ranging froma relaxed or at rest position to a position of maximum finger bending, apressure force will,

on the'one hand, be imparted to the back side of the fingers andparts ofthe metacarpus due to stretching of the sections of the glove fingersalong the rear portion while, on the other hand, there is produced acrumpling, creasing or folding of the glove finger front and palmsections. Scientific investigation has shown that conventionally cutgloves are subject to significant disadvantages from ananatomical-biological point of view. The pressure imparted to thefingers and other portions of the hand by the gloves restricted freeblood circulation which, in turn, lead. to reduced sensitivity and lossof strength in the hand; The formation of the creases and folds in thepalm portion of the gloove also resulted in irritation to the wearer ofthe glove. The fact that the fingers of the hand are constrained by theglove to move in other trajectories than those which would be naturalforthe fingers of the hand, caused increased wearing on knuckles, ligamentsand muscles. In short, prior art gloves, quite simply, were not fittedto the natural motions of the hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is predicated on aprecise knowledge of the anatomy of the hand, and effectively eliminatesthe disadvantages encountered in the prior art by providing a gloveconstructed of tranks including a palm portion and a rear portion, andwith the glove being closely adapted to the anatomy and natural motionof the hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further description of exemplaryembodiments of the invention is provided herein below with reference tothe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hand in a relaxed or at rest position,with the hand shown wearing a glove according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hand and glove of FIG. 1, shown withthe hand in a clenched position;

FIG. 3 is a planar view of the tranks for forming the glove;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a piece of material showing an arrangement fromwhich the glove tranks of FIG. 3 are adapted to be cut; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a trank for constructing a glove according toan alternative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 shows a glove-covered hand, in this case aleft hand, in its natural relaxed or at rest position, or in an initialposition prepared for effecting a grip. The four three-knuckled fingersof the hand (the fore finger, the middle finger, the ring finger, andthe little finger) are bent, so as to form a'gently claw-likeconfiguration which extends from the metacarpus, and with the thumbbeing also somewhat bent. Commencing from the position shown in FIG. 1,the fingers are movable in the direction of the arrow A towards amutually spaced position which is generally coplanar with themetacarpus, or in the direction of the arrow B into a clenched andmaximum crooked or bent position. The same hand is shown in FIG. 2 withthe fingers bent in the direction of the arrow B to a degree in whichthe hand is gently clenched, in effect, the fingers are in a positionsomewhere intermediate the initial position and the maximum clenchedposition. In FIG. 2 there is shown an imaginary center line C extendinglongitudinally through the metacarpus of the hand, and an imaginary lineD in the plane of motion of the ring finger. It may be readily seen thatthe lines form an acute angle with each other.

The glove illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a rear portion 1, and apalm portion generally 2 which is joined with the rear portion to formthe glove. The rear portion consists of two parts, namely ametacarpuscovering rear portion 3, and finger compartments or stalls 4.The glove simultaneously includes a thumb top portion 5. The joining ofthe parts or elements forming the glove is suitably effected by means ofneedle work such as for example, a straight seam, even though otherjoining methods are possible.

Before going into a more detailed description, it is noted that the termmetacarpus-covering portion is in this context to be understood todefine the part of the glove which extends substantially from the innerknuckles of the three-knuckled fingers to the wrist of the hand, eventhough this glove portion may upon occasion also extend more or less upalong the fore-arm while, for specific purposes, holes or cutouts may beprovided in the metacarpus-covering glove portion. Extension pieces mayalso be added to the metacarpuscovering glove portion. The palm portionof the glove adapted to cover the metacarpus may, in a similar way, alsobe extended.

Reference is now had to FIG. 3 from which it is seen that a trankforming the palm portion 2 includes six sections, namely, ametacarpus-covering section 6, a thumb section 7, a fore finger section8, a middle finger section 9, a ring finger section 10, and a littlefinger section 11. The finger sections 8-11 collectively form a glovefinger unit 12. A numeral 13 indicates an outer edge of section 6 whichis directed at an angle away from the thumb section 7, the imaginarycenter line C extending along the palm portion 2 being substantiallyparallel to the edge 13.

According to a primary aspect of the invention, the finger sections 8-11of the trank in the unfolded state, extend obliquely or at an anglerelative to the center line C or the edge 13 of section 6, the edge 13being coextensive with the outer edge of the little finger section 11.The fingers sections of the glove consequently are adapted to follow thesame trajectories of motion or planes as the fingers of the hand.

It has been established that a suitable angle 7 between the center lineC, or the edge 13, and the longitudinal direction of each of the fingersections should lie within the range l040 and preferentially 2030.

Slits 14 separating each separate finger section terminate at differentdistances from a theoretical straight line extending transversely acrossthe section 6. More precisely, the slits l4 terminate in a manner inwhichthe bottom ends thereof jointly form a curved line in conformancewith the positioning of the innermost finger knuckles which are to becovered by the glove.

A theoretical center line through the thumb section 7 forms, accordingto a particular feature of the invention, an obtuse angle with imaginarycenter lines along the finger sections 8-11. The obtuse angle preferablylies in the range of l50-l70.

Bending or swinging of the thumb section 7 is effected along the dottedline E, which extends from the bottom of a wedge-shaped cutout 15 to thetermination of the thumb section just above an edge 26 of section 6.

Even though it is possible to join the palm portion 2 shown in FIG. 3 ofseveral pieces of material, it is, as illustrated in the drawing,convenient to cut the complete glove palm portion, i.e., the section 6,the thumb section 7 and the finger unit 12, out of a single piece. Seamsor adjoints in the palm portion which are irritating and which reducethe sensitivity of the hand are avoided in this manner.

Reference is now had to the tranks defining the finger portion 4 of theglove rear portion 1. This finger portion 4 consists, in the illustratedembodiment, of four single, in the finished condition of the glove,mutually joined finger sections or pieces of material 17, 18, 19, and 20which are intended for use in forming compartments for the fore finger,the middle finger, the ring finger and the little finger, respectively.The fore finger and the long finger sections 17 and 18 are shown sewntogether in FIG. 3, as well as the ring finger and the little fingersections. Each finger section 17 to 20, as

clearly appears from the drawing, is wider than the complementary fingersections 8-11 of the palm portion 2. The widths of the fingers areindicated by lines 21 in each finger section. The areas of the fingersections lying outside the dot-and-dash lines 21 will, when the glove issewn together form the side sections of the fingers and thus provide.that the fingers of the glove obtain sufiicient compartment space whenthe glove tranks portions are sewn together.

When the glove is shaped, the end edges 22 of the finger sections aresewn together with the curved joining edge 23 of the section 3 of therear portion.

If the finger sections 17 to 20 are each made of a nominal lengthequivalent to or corresponding with the lengths of the finger sections 8to 11 of the palm portion, then thefinger stalls of the completed glovewill extend in the same plane as the metacarpus, provided that theportion 3 is fixedin a predetermined manner to the palm portion 2. Theglove would then be flat .or planar. This, however, is not desirable inthe invention, which pursuant to a particular feature assumes that thefinger sections 17 to 20 are made longer than the nominal finger length.The glove hereby is provided with finger sections which, in an initialor unstrained state, are bent relative to the metacarpus-coveringportion of the glove, and thus correlated with the shape of fingers of ahand. In this instance, this may be a question in making all the fingersections longer than the nominal finger length, whereby all of thefingers of the glove are bent. Gloves of this kind find a use when allof the fingers of the hand are to be bent, i.e., around elongatedobjects like icehockey sticks, handles of a different kind, rods or thelike. It may, however, be a question in making only one or a smallnumber of the finger pieces longer than the nominal length. Accordingly,not all of the fingers of the glove are hereby bent. Examples of gloves,in whichone or several fingers of the glove are bent in the beginningwhile one or more remain straight, are working gloves of different kindswhere the fingers of the hand function in a different manner. In thisinstance the hand repeatedly grips a work piece which is shaped in awaywherein the fore finger and the long finger lie straight against oneside of the work piece, while the ringfinger and the little finger arebent around a detail of the work piece.

The degree of initial bending of the fingers of the glove may, accordingto the invention, be varied by increasing or decreasing the extension ofthe finger sections vl7 to 20 beyond their nominal length. If thegloves, for example, are intended to be used in connection with firmgrips, e.g., when the hand is clenched to a maximum, the finger sections17 to 20 are made to a maximum length, while the finger sections aremade somewhat shorter if a lighter grip is to be made possible. Thelength of the finger sections should, with regard to normal gloves forevery day use, be adapted in such a way that the fingers of the gloveachieve the same degree of bending. as the fingers of the hand wouldassume in the relaxed orat rest position or the initial position shownin FIG. 1.

In the illustrated embodiment the finger sections 17 to 20 are cutseparately and then joined together to a finger portion 4 by means ofneedle work. This is advantageous from a calculated technical point ofview,

as will appear from the description in connection with- FIG. 4.Nevertheless, it is however possible per se to cut the finger pieces ina different way, e.g., by cutting the fingers pieces two by two. It iseven possible, even thoughfrom the calculated technical point of view isimpractical, to cut all the four finger sections 17 to 20 in one singlepiece.

section 7 of the palm portion 2. The characteristic of the thumb portion5 is that the first and secondedges and 27, respectively, mutually forman acute angle, and preferably an angle of 2040.

The thumb portion 5 includes a shoulder-like, generallytriangularly-shaped projection 28 having two edges 29 and 30 similar tothe short legs of a triangle, of i i which the one edge 29 extendsacross or perpendicular towardsthe previously mentioned first edge 25.This edge 29 is adapted to be joined to an edge 31 of a wedge formedcutout 15 in the palm portion 2, the cutout 15 being proximate to thethumb section 7.

As clearly appears from FIG. 1, one end (the end ad- 20 jacent the edge29) of the first edge 25 of the thumb As appears from FIG. 3, thefinger-sections 17 to 20 include small notches or cutouts 24. Thesecutouts will, when the glove is sewn together, be present at points ofintersection in which the mutual joints between the separate fingersections meet the joints between the rear finger sections and the fingersections 8 to 11 of the palm portion. The sewing is facilitated by meansof the cutouts, and will prevent creases or wrinkles forming in thematerial at the bottoms of the slits between the separate fingersectionsof the glove.

top portion is arranged at a distance from the joint 32' between thefinger portion 4 of the rear portion and the portion 3. This distancedetermines, in addition to the finger sections of the palm-portion 2,also the correct position for the thumb of the glove. Reference is nowhad to FIG. 4 which illustrates the calculation for locating the trankson a piece of material for forming the previously described glove. Thedifferent glove blank portions, as appear from the figure and which forma part of the glove, are cut from an extremely small piece of materialby suitable positioning of the different blank portions. The fact thatthis advantageous fitting can be carried out is, above all, a result ofthe advantage that the finger section 17 to-20 which form the fingerportions 4, may beseparately cut.

The joining of the different components to form the glove illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 4 is performed in the following manner: The separate fingersections 17 to 20 are, in a first step, sewed together through the seams33, effecting the formation of the finger stalls 4. The finger stalls 4are firmly sewed, in a second step, at the metacarpus-covering portion3, with the edges 22 lying against the edge 23. Along the joining edge23 of the portion 3, it must be observed that an incision 34 determinesthe position of the finger sections. The 'thumb' top portion 5 is firmlysewed to the palm portion 2, in a-third step. Finally, the palmportion2, which includes the thumb top portion 5, is sewn together withthe rear portion 1, consisting of the finger stalls 4 and the portion 3.

An alternative embodiment of a glove, or more precisely a glove tranktherefore, according to the invention, is shown in FIG. 5; In thisembodiment the palm portion 2 and the rear portion 3 of the gloveare-integrally cut.

The advantages of the inventive glove are manifold. The glove is adaptedto the functional anatomy of the hand, thereby allowing the glove tooffer the knuckles of the hand and the fingers freedom in effecting itsnatural anatomical trajectories of motion. and'load. Furthermoreachieved by the structural and functional adaptation of the glove to thehand is a durable and crease-free palm surface, thereby eliminating thatsource of pressure on the hand tending to restrict the circulation ofblood.

It may be ascertained that the invention is not restricted to only theembodiments described and shown in the drawings. Thus, for example, itis possible to make a glove which does not have one finger stall foreach and every one of the fingers of the hand, but which includes fingerstalls or compartments adapted to accommodate two or more fingers.Furthermore, the glove may, due to functional or esthetic reasons, bemodified in various ways, such as by extending the glove upwardly alongthe fore arm in different lengths, or by forming holes or cut outs atvarious locations in the glove. The glove may also be provided withprotectors or inserts of different kinds. It is thus possible to makeseveral modifications of the glove within the scope of the appendedclaims.

1 claim:

l. A glove structure comprising a palm portion including a thumb sectionand a plurality of front finger sections extending therefrom, saidfinger sections defining, respectively, fore finger, middle finger, ringfinger and little finger sections, an outer side edge on said littlefinger section, a side edge on said palm portion forming an extension ofthe outer side edge of said little finger section and being angled awayfrom the thumb section of said glove structure, said finger sectionseach subtending a predetermined acute angle relative to the side edge ofsaid palm portion; a rear portion adapted to cover the metacarpus of ahand, said rear portion having a side edge; finger rear sections forforming stalls with said finger sections; and a thumb top portionfastened to said thumb section for forming a thumb stall, said thumb topportion having a first edge joined to said side edge of said rearportion and a second longitudinally extending edge joined to said thumbsection, said first and second edges extending at an acute angle to eachother.

2. A glove structure as claimed in claim 1, said acute angle betweensaid finger sections and the side edge of said palm portion being in therange of 10 to 40.

3. A glove structure as claimed in claim 1, said thumb section of saidpalm portion extending at an obtuse angle relative to said fingersections.

4. A glove structure as claimed in claim 1, said palm portion and saidfinger sections being of an integral single-piece structure.

5. A glove structure as claimed in claim 1, said finger rear sectionsbeing provided for, respectively, the fore finger, middle finger, ringfinger and little finger of a hand; said rear portion and said fingerrear sections being fastened together along a joining edge; at leastsome of said finger rear sections being extended relative to therespective finger sections associated therewith, said extended fingerrear section upon being joined to a respective one of said fingersections forming a stall adapted to strainlessly bend relative to thepalm portion in conformance with the motion of a finger in said stall.

6. A glove structure asv claimed in claim 1, each said finger rearsection having a length greater than the front finger section associatedtherewith for forming a stall.

7. A glove structure as claimed in claim 1, comprising cutouts formed insaid finger rear sections in at least the points of intersection betweenadjacent of said finger rear sections and said front finger sectionsupon joining thereof to form said glove.

8. A glove structure as claimed in claim 1, said acute angle betweensaid first and second edges being in the range of 20 to 40.

9. A glove structure as claimed in claim I, said thumb top portionhaving a generally triangular shoulder portion projecting therefromhaving two edges forming the short sides of a triangle, a cutout formedin said palm portion, one said edge extending across the first edge ofsaid thumb portion and being joined with an edge of said cutout in saidpalm portion proximate said thumb section upon joining thereof to formsaid glove structure.

10. A glove structure as claimed in claim 1, said first edge of thethumb top portion being spaced from the juncture between the stalls andthe glove rear portion.

1. A glove structure comprising a palm portion including a thumb sectionand a plurality of front finger sections extending therefrom, saidfinger sections defining, respectively, fore finger, middle finger, ringfinger and little finger sections, an outer side edge on said littlefinger section, a side edge on said palm portion forming an extension ofthe outer side edge of said little finger section and being angled awayfrom the thumb section of said glove structure, said finger sectionseach subtending a predetermined acute angle relative to the side edge ofsaid palm portion; a rear portion adapted to cover the metacarpus of ahand, said rear portion having a side edge; finger rear sections forforming stalls with said finger sections; and a thumb top portionfastened to said thumb section for forming a thumb stall, said thumb topportion having a first edge joined to said side edge of said rearportion and a second longitudinally extending edge joined to said thumbsection, said first and second edges extending at an acute angle to eachother.
 2. A glove structure as claimed in claim 1, said acute anglebetween said finger sections and the side edge of said palm portionbeing in the range of 10* to 40* .
 3. A glove structure as claimed inclaim 1, said thumb section of said palm portion extending at an obtuseangle relative to said finger sections.
 4. A glove structure as claimedin claim 1, said palm portion and said finger sections being of anintegral single-piece structure.
 5. A glove structure as claimed inclaim 1, said finger rear sections being provided for, respectively, thefore finger, middle finGer, ring finger and little finger of a hand;said rear portion and said finger rear sections being fastened togetheralong a joining edge; at least some of said finger rear sections beingextended relative to the respective finger sections associatedtherewith, said extended finger rear section upon being joined to arespective one of said finger sections forming a stall adapted tostrainlessly bend relative to the palm portion in conformance with themotion of a finger in said stall.
 6. A glove structure as claimed inclaim 1, each said finger rear section having a length greater than thefront finger section associated therewith for forming a stall.
 7. Aglove structure as claimed in claim 1, comprising cutouts formed in saidfinger rear sections in at least the points of intersection betweenadjacent of said finger rear sections and said front finger sectionsupon joining thereof to form said glove.
 8. A glove structure as claimedin claim 1, said acute angle between said first and second edges beingin the range of 20* to 40* .
 9. A glove structure as claimed in claim 1,said thumb top portion having a generally triangular shoulder portionprojecting therefrom having two edges forming the short sides of atriangle, a cutout formed in said palm portion, one said edge extendingacross the first edge of said thumb portion and being joined with anedge of said cutout in said palm portion proximate said thumb sectionupon joining thereof to form said glove structure.
 10. A glove structureas claimed in claim 1, said first edge of the thumb top portion beingspaced from the juncture between the stalls and the glove rear portion.